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ARMY-NASA Partnership at
Lewis Research Center

U.S. Army Vehicle Technology Center

The Vehicle
Technology Center had its beginning with the
restructuring of the Army aviation laboratories in July 1970.
At that time, it was known as the Lewis Directorate of the
Army Mobility Research and Development Laboratory (AMRDL), US
Army Aviation Systems Command. Despite several name changes,
the roles and missions have remained nearly unchanged, except
for the addition of the ground vehicle mission in 1992, when
VTC became part of the Army Research Laboratory.
Most recently, as ARL consolidated its activities, the Lewis
laboratory was merged with its sister activity in Langley,
Virginia.

Since its inception in 1970, the organization has operated as
tenant-partner of the NASA
Lewis Research Center, concentrating its activity in
areas of mutual interest and benefit. The Army provides
equipment for in-house research as well as support for
contracts with industry, and most important, it provides
people to share in the conduct and management of the
technical work. NASA Lewis in turn, provides these same
resources with two other vitally important ingredients - a
rich collection of research facilities and the necessary
support services. Significant facilities available to the
Army include a world-class materials laboratory, engine and
component research stands, transmission test stands, altitude
test facilities, an icing research tunnel, and an array of
laboratories to perform research in basic scientific
disciplines.

The programs of mutual interest are jointly managed and,
where appropriate, jointly funded. This unique arrangement is
without parallel in the field of propulsion and places the
Army in position to be at the leading edge of technology
development by maximizing the use of a wide array of
resources at the Center.

Mission of Vehicle Technology Center

The Vehicle Technology Center
(Lewis-Site) is chartered to plan, develop, manage, and
execute a portion of the Army's program of in-house and
contracted effort in Basic Research, Exploratory Development,
and Advanced Development. Although emphasis is on serving the
interests of ARL in the fields of aircraft and ground-vehicle
propulsion and drive-train systems, technical consultation
and support are provided to other elements of Army Materiel
Command and Department of the Army. Both the direct, hands-on
technology development and the contracted programs with
industry are aimed at staying ahead of emerging requirements
for future engine and drivetrain systems. As part of that
process, the Directorate maintains cognizance of technical
developments throughout the United States and other
countries, and identifies new technological opportunities and
thrusts. Because the product will affect design and
performance of propulsion and drive-train systems, virtually
all component and system technology areas are covered through
the joint activity with the NASA Lewis Research Center.